Trade

"An anomaly in the Flood Dragon Lightning Pearl—could it have detected traces of a flood dragon?"

At the top of the Flood Dragon Ship, the silver-haired Star Official who had initially wanted to buy the fry stared blankly at the Flood Dragon Lightning Pearl hanging high above. His heart churned with boundless delight.

Top Grade Star Artifacts possessed a special spirituality and were extremely sensitive to the aura of flood dragons.

In truth, the Heavenly Sun Star Palace had placed the flood dragon in the Star Gazing Manor mainly to deal with the Black River disaster, and secondly to search for traces of flood dragons!

A flood dragon was a treasure from head to toe. The essence of its life alone was worth an astronomical figure. Sun Jingbo had originally been an unsuccessful disciple of the Heavenly Star Manor, muddling through more than half his life without hope of reaching the Fourth Realm. He had spent all his wealth to secure a position as a High-Ranking Star Official.

He had come to the Tian Yuan Star Observation Manor to track down a flood dragon. If he successfully located one and reported it to his superiors, the reward might give him hope of reaching the Fourth Realm.

However, more than a hundred years had passed without anyone ever seeing the Black River flood dragon. Yet in the spring of the previous year, the Flood Dragon Lightning Pearl had faintly detected some fluctuations.

Unfortunately, the Flood Dragon Ship had gone around in circles for months without finding anything. He had never expected that at this very moment, the Flood Dragon Lightning Pearl would detect even more precise fluctuations.

Sun Jingbo repeatedly communicated with the Flood Dragon Lightning Pearl, and its feedback indicated that the aura was relatively close to them!

"Eh? That kid is back. I didn't expect him to win."

Sun Jingbo was drawn by the shouts from the deck. When he turned around and saw the servant boy climbing up, his face was filled with oddity. He had won?

Nearly all the Star Masters were also dumbstruck. The imperial grandson had lost? A servant had won? An ant had shaken a tree? This was too absurd, wasn't it?

"You..." The referee's eyes widened as well. He had bet three thousand Star Stones, only to end up with nothing.

"Bang!"

Xuan Yuanchang coldly set down his jade cup and rose expressionlessly. Facing the night wind, he looked down at Chen Fusheng, and his fleshly body began to heat up."

The black mist filling the sky exploded apart, while tangible flames erupted from his pupils.

If he had not briefly stabilized his emotions, the raging tide in his qi sea would have erupted, and a large number of the surrounding Star Officials would have been killed or injured.

"Heh, ha..." Xuan Yuanchang's face was indescribably ferocious. Seeing the two tokens Chen Fusheng had taken out made him even more furious. Couldn't he have produced one more and called it a draw?

The enormous Flood Dragon Ship fell deathly silent. Everyone had been stunned by Xuan Yuanchang's fury.

"Bang!"

At that moment, A'Da burst out of the water, covered in blood and looking utterly wretched. His mournful eyes fixed on Chen Fusheng, as if he wished he could grind him to dust.

Xu Changfeng was the first to break the silence. "Did he run into a Piranha Swarm? Where is the apothecary? Treat the Imperial Guard immediately. There must be no delay!"

"Yes, Palace Master!" The apothecary hurried down, tripping and tumbling to the ground. He needed to liven up the atmosphere now.

Xuan Yuanchang took a deep look at A'Da. The latter lowered his head, and Chen Fusheng was surprised that he did not make a huge scene like Ling Yao.

A loss was a loss. The struggle and slaughter during the contest had all been within the rules, and Chen Fusheng had even saved his life.

If he tried to wriggle out of it now, the one who would lose face would still be His Highness.

"Your Highness."

Chen Fusheng said, "This round was originally a wager between Ling Yao and me..."

"Can you shut up about me already..." Ling Yao wished he could kick Chen Fusheng to death.

"I came up with the water contest on a whim. I didn't expect your guard to run into a Piranha Swarm along the way. His luck was rather poor. How about Ling Yao and I have another match?"

The moment Chen Fusheng finished speaking, everyone was impressed to the point of bowing at his feet. Liu Bai grew anxious and was just about to step out and speak when Wang Lie forcibly held him back.

Xuan Yuanchang was already on the verge of going berserk. There was no need to add fuel to the fire now.

Xuan Yuanchang's expression eased somewhat as he said calmly, "Rules are rules. A loss is a loss. I never expected the Tian Yuan Star Observation Manor to have someone as extraordinary as you. Keeping you here would be wasting your talents!"

Because of the Flood Dragon Diagram's residual perception, demonic killing intent lurked in the depths of Xuan Yuanchang's eyes, and Chen Fusheng keenly locked onto it.

"Your Highness flatters me. Fusheng is unworthy of such praise." Chen Fusheng bowed in thanks.

"Yes, Your Highness. This disciple merely got lucky. He is unworthy of such praise." Xu Changfeng turned his head aside and silently grinned foolishly with his huge mouth, then turned back and spoke solemnly.

"Boom!"

Xuan Yuanchang flung his wide sleeve, and the Gathering Star Pearl crashed down onto Chen Fusheng's head.

The deck fell even quieter. Hundreds and thousands of burning gazes, greed, killing intent, jealousy, and more all swept toward Chen Fusheng.

Could the Star Cloud Bag compare with the Gathering Star Pearl? To an entire clan, the Gathering Star Pearl could effectively resonate with the stars of all the heavens. It was a clan-guarding foundation.

Of course, Gathering Star Pearls also came in various grades. The imperial grandson's Gathering Star Pearl was of relatively high quality, and no force in Tian Yuan City possessed such an item.

"Palace Master, this wager is too valuable. I cannot accept it." Chen Fusheng hurriedly tossed the hot potato back to Xu Changfeng.

Xu Changfeng pretended to be embarrassed. "His Highness has only just arrived, so..."

Hmm? Where had that grandson gone?

Xu Changfeng casually pocketed the Gathering Star Pearl, coughed lightly, and said, "It's dark. All disciples, return to your own households. Tomorrow, we march four thousand li into the Black River."

With that, he vanished without a trace.

"Little Bai, your friend is quite a talent. Where did you meet him? You didn't even introduce him to me?" Xu Guifen's charming eyes swept directly over Chen Fusheng.

Liu Bai froze, suddenly feeling a grave sense of crisis. He leaned close and whispered, "Queen, although Chen Fusheng's background isn't very good, Mu Zhen and he... you understand."

Xu Guifen was astonished. Mu Zhen going to the Heavenly Star Manor was practically a certainty. Could she have taken a liking to Chen Fusheng? Of course, Chen Fusheng was quite impressive too.

"Fourth Brother, you've struck it rich!"

"I can't believe His Highness's guard ran into a Piranha Swarm. Your luck is truly unmatched."

Big Black Fatty and the others came over excitedly to offer their congratulations. Worry lurked in Chen Fusheng's eyes. How could Xuan Yuanchang possibly forgive him after suffering such a humiliating loss?

"What's this?"

Liu Bai and the others each stuffed a Star Stone Bag into Chen Fusheng's hands. Wang Lie said with a laugh, "We won because of you, so don't refuse. And Liu Bai won at least forty thousand Star Stones!"

Chen Fusheng glanced at the side betting pool and the gamblers who looked battered and dejected. He had said he would keep a low profile, yet he had ended up offending more and more Star Masters.

Wang Dapang said quietly, "Keep your head down during this period. Don't go anywhere. We'll discuss it after we return."

Chen Fusheng nodded. If I can't afford to provoke them, can't I at least hide? He would do his utmost to avoid this special period.

"Come to your room." Xu Changfeng transmitted his voice.

Amid the many gloomy gazes, Chen Fusheng returned to his quarters. The first thing he saw was Xu Changfeng's mouth split almost to his ears; the second was Xu Changfeng sitting there solemnly.

"I say, Palace Master, if you want to laugh, then just laugh." Chen Fusheng scratched his head.

"Stop fooling around. Sit down and let's discuss serious business." The corners of Xu Changfeng's mouth lifted, and his face was twitching from holding it in.

Next, Xu Changfeng mainly asked how exactly he had won. When Chen Fusheng mentioned snatching A'Da's token, Xu Changfeng's face darkened somewhat.

"This grudge is forged!"

Xu Changfeng frowned. "But Chen Fusheng, rest assured. I'll protect you. Let me reveal a little insider information, but remember, don't spread it. In a few days, a major ancient ruin..."

Xu Changfeng told him why Xuan Yuanchang had tried to seize his position. The main reason was that the Supreme Treasure Land left behind by the Ancient Zhou Dynasty in the Cold Abyss region was about to open!

Even the slightest fortuitous opportunity encountered there could turn one's future life upside down!

Xu Changfeng himself was grateful that he had risked his life fighting back then. Otherwise, how could he have reached the Fourth Realm?

"The Cold Abyss, the Supreme Treasure Land?"

Chen Fusheng asked, "Palace Master, did the Cold Abyss Poison come from the Cold Abyss?"

"Why are you asking about that?" Xu Changfeng was astonished. Hadn't he heard about the Supreme Treasure Land? What kind of opportunity was this? Shouldn't the youth be eagerly flattering him and charging into battle at his side?

The number of places to enter the Supreme Treasure Land was limited. Xu Changfeng planned to "tie" Chen Fusheng to his warship!

Chen Fusheng's thoughts were all on the Cold Abyss Poison. A wild notion surfaced in his mind. Could Huang Tiancheng's poison be the Cold Abyss Poison?

Seeing that Chen Fusheng was somewhat distracted, Xu Changfeng snorted. "I'm telling you, young people shouldn't place too much importance on benefits. Could I possibly deny you the treasures that belong to you?"

"Palace Master, you misunderstand. I'll abide entirely by your decision."

"What if I take them all?"

Xu Changfeng snorted. "Enough. I'll give you three options. The first is that I keep the Gathering Star Pearl and compensate you with one million Star Stones."

Chen Fusheng's eyelid twitched slightly. One million...

"The second option is that I keep the Gathering Star Pearl, you keep the Star Cloud Bag, and I compensate you with two hundred thousand."

"The third option is that I keep the Gathering Star Pearl and the fry! You keep the Star Cloud Bag, and I'll also compensate you with two Fourth Rank Talismans."

"Fourth Rank!" Chen Fusheng's pupils widened.

Rune Masters were an extremely scarce profession. They could refine all kinds of offensive and defensive talismans. Fourth Rank Talismans were aimed at Fourth-Realm Star Masters and were precisely the life-preserving treasures he urgently needed.

"Which option do you want?" Xu Changfeng revealed the smile of an old fox.

Chen Fusheng's heart immediately lit up with joy. It seemed Xu Changfeng had decided he was easy prey, but Xu Changfeng did not know that Chen Fusheng did not particularly value the Gathering Star Pearl.

"I choose the third, but I have a condition."

"This option suits you best."

Xu Changfeng was extremely satisfied. He immediately put on a dignified expression and asked, "What condition?"

"I want to use the Gathering Star Pearl for one month."

"Such a trivial matter. I'll let you use it for three months!"

Xu Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Chen Fusheng would demand more money.

While they negotiated, no one noticed that a terrifying giant creature, ten thousand zhang long, had silently drawn close to the Flood Dragon Ship after failing to find its little companions.

"Did my future Dao companion get scared away by the Flood Dragon Ship?"